Tube or pipe joint.



C. A. CLAFLIN.'

TUBE 0R PIPE JOINT. APPLICATION FILED ocmw, 1912.

1 ,.1 09,042. Patented Sept. 1, 1914.

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madman sfrairs f CHARLES A. CLAFLIN, OF MEDFGED, MASSACHUSETTS.

TUBE 0B, PLFE JGINT.

To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, CHARLES A. CLAFIJN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Medford, in the county of Middlesex ajnd State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tube or Pipe Joints, of which the following is a specification.

rlhis invention relates to tubular conduits composed of two members separately cojnnected end to end, the joint at the meeting ends of the said members being packed by a gasket composed of a material such as a ductile, compressible metal or alloy, adapted to conform closely to said meeting ends and to form a iuid tight oint therewith.

.The invention has for its objectto provide improved means for firmly securing the gasket to one of said'members, in such manner that when the members are separated, the gasket will remain in its predetermined place on one of the members, without liability to accidental displacement.

The invention consists in the improvements which I will now proceed to describe and claim.

Of the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, Figure l represents a vlongitudinal section of two tubular members, operatively connected, the joint formed by their proximate ends being packed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 represents a longitudinal. section of the gasket-carrying member, before the engagement of the gasket therewith. Fig. 3 represents a sectional view of the gasket before its engagement with the tubular mem ber shown by Fig. 2. Fig. 4 represents a View similar to Fig. 2, showing the gasket in position for a permanent engagement with the tube member which carries it. Fig. 5

represents a view similar to Fig. 1, showing the relative positions of the parts prior to the permanent engagement of the gasket with the carrying member. Fig. 6 represents a side view of the gasket, after it has been flattened. Fig. 7 represents a section on line 7-.-7 of Fig. 6. Fig. 8 represents a sectional view of a modification.

The same reference characters indicate the same parts in all of the figures.

Inthe drawings, 12 and 13 represent two tubular members which are connected end to end to form a uid conduit, or a portion thereof, the member 12 being here shown as Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed October 19, 1915?..

Patented Sept. i, i914. serial no. recita.

externally screw-threaded at one end for en gagement for another conduit portion, and provided with an external shoulder 14, while the member 13 is shown as a nipple. adapted to be inserted in a iiexible hose, and provided with an externally threaded portion l5 adapted to engage a coupling nut or union 16, having a flange 17 engaging the shoulder 14. The member 12 is provided with an annular end face 18, which is in a plane at 'right angles with the axis of the member 12. From the inner portion of said end face vprojects an' annular lip 19, in the outer surface lof which is formed an annular groove 20, the inner side of which. isformed y the end face 18. The height or diameter of the outer side of the groove 2O is ,consid-v erably less than that of the inner side.

21 represents an annularwasher, preferably composed of a ductile metal or alloy, which is suitably inert, or non-resilient and compressible. made of frusto-conical form, as shown by Figs. 3,14, and 5, its inner edge being of suitable diameter to receive the lip 19, as indicated by Figs. 4 and 5. The washer is first placed upon the lip 19 with its inner edge registering with the groove 20. Pressure is then applied to one side of the washer in the direction required to flatten the washer against the face 18. This operation contracts the inner edge of the washer into the groove 20, the diameter of the said inner edge becoming less than that of the outer side of the groove. The washer is, therefore,` firmly engaged with the member 12, and is free from liability to become accidentally detached therefrom when the members are separated. The pressure which flattens the washer may be caused by the operation of connecting the members 12 and 13. The member 13 has an annular end face 22, which is parallel with the end face 18 when the members are connected. After the washer has been applied to the member 12, as shownk by Fig. :4, the member 13 is engaged with the couplingnut 16, as shown by Fig. 5, the nut being rotated untill the member 13 `is drawn into the nut, as indicated by Fig. 1, the end face 22 being thus caused to flatten the washer and contract its inner edge. It is obvious that the washer may be flattened by other means before the members 12 and 13 are connected.

Fig. 8 showsa modification, in which the The washer 21 is originally tubular members are connected by bolts engaged with vlanges'QG on the adjacent end portions of said members.

The material of the washer is suiiciently ductile and compressible to cause the sides of the washer to conform closely to the faces 18 and 22, so that when the members are connected, the Washer forms a Huid tight joint between their proximate ends. I'do not limit myself to a ductile metal or metallic alloy as the material of the washer,'and may use any other suitable material adapted to be formed into a frusto-conical Washer, said Washer being adapted to be flattened, and at the same time, contracted at its inner edge.

I claim:

l. In a tube 0r pipe joint a tubular inember having an annular washer-supporting end face, a grooved lip projecting from said face and an annular non-resilient ductile washer bearing on said face and originally of frusto-conical form, the inner edge of the Washer being contracted as described into the groove byiattening pressure of the washer against said end face, and locked in place by the outer side of the groove, the locked washer having flat sides conforming to said end faces and to an opposed face on another member. y j

2. A tube or pipe joint comprising two tubular members having opposed substantially parallel annular end faces, connecting means adapted to force said end faces toward each other,'one of said members having an externally grooved lip, and an annular non-resilient ductile washer 'interposed between said faces and originally of frustoconical form, the said end faces being formed toflatten the Washer and contract its inner edge into the groove of said lip, until the washer is locked by the outer side of said groove, the locked washer having fiat sides conforming to said end faces.

In testimony whereof I have aflixed my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES A. CLAFLIN.

Witnesses:

A. IV. HARRISON, P. W. PEZZETTI. 

